Pipe-wrench.



' No. 763,099. PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904. w. A. HOSTETLER.

.PIPE WRBNGL APPLICATION PILEI APE. 9. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

Ml "NNUU '.Nfo. 763,099.

' UNITED STATES Patented .T une 21, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.v e

PIPE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION Application tiled April 9, 1904.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, VILLIAM A. Hos'rE'rLER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at lValnut, in the county ofduniata and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pipe-VVrenches, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in .that class of implementscommonly styled pipe-wrenches and provides particularly a specialconstruction of cooperating jaws which are adapted to grip the objectwhich is being operated upon in the actual use of the device. Theinvention specially resides in the construction of the jaw members, asabove premised, and in special means whereby said jaws are held in theirnormal position and otherwise.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreecting the result reference is to be hand to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated /in the accompanying drawings, lin. which-Figure l is a perspective View of a wrench constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the jaws being shownclosed gripping a pipe or similar part. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalview.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The wrench embodied in my invention is of the type comprising rigid andmovable jaws l and 2, respectively, which latter are carried by a shank3, which constitutes the handle by which the implement is manipulated.In carrying out the invention the shank 3 has its lower end bifurcated,so as to form spaced members l, which are curved so as to form the rigidjaw l, above mentioned. The jaw 1 may be of any suitable form adapted tore` ceive the pipe, the spaced members l thereof being provided with aplurality of teeth 4 to forming pei-t ef Letters Peteet No. 763,099,dated Jene A21, 1904.

Serial No. 202,450. (No model.)

facilitate the gripping action of the jaw against the object which isbeing operated upon.

Pivoted between the bifurcated portion of the shank 3 of the wrench andadjacent the rigid jaw l, which latter is integrally formed with theshank, is the movable jaw 2, the latter being mounted upon apivot-pin 5and provided with teeth 4, similar to those of the rigid jaw 1. Themovable jaw 2' is provided with a rear extension 6, preferably integraltherewith. It is designed that the movable jaw shall remain normallyopen when the wrench is not in use, and for this purpose aspring 7 ismounted upon the pivot-pin 5, one end of the spring being secured to theshank of the wrench, as shown at f7, the other end being secured to theextension 6, as shown at 7b. The movable jaw 2 is provided with anopening adjacent the point of pivotal support thereof, so as to admit ofmounting the spring 7 in the manner above described. The tendency ofthespring 7, as before premised, is to cause the jaw 2 to normallyremain in an open-position as regards the jaw l. When the wrench isbeing used, it is of course necessary that some means be provided tohold the movable jaw 2 in engagement with the pipe or like part, and aspring 8 is also utilized to accomplish the above. The spring 8 isconnected with the outer end of the extension 6 of the movable jaw 2atone end, the otherend of the spring being connected with a lever 9,pivoted to the upper portion of the shank 3. The spring 8 may beconnected with thealever 9 by means of any suitablepart 10, which mayconsist of a rigid connecting device or a flexible member, as found best'in the practical embodiment of the invention. in use, the lever 9 is inthe position shown in Fig. l, being extend ed from the shank. When thewrench is to be used, however, the lever 9 is thrown upwardly againstthe shank.- and this movement increases the tension .of the spring 8, soas to thereby overcome the tension of the' spring 7. Since the tensionof the spring 8 is greater than the spring 7, the movable jaw 2 iscaused to close against the object received between the jaws of theimplement,whereupon the wrench may be manipulated in the usual manner toeffect the desired result. The part lflien the jaw 1 is not 10 isconnected with the lever 9 at a point bei tween the ends of the latter.After the wrench has been used the lever 9 is thrown downwardly,whereupon the spring 7 cooperates with the jaw 2, because the latter hasassumed its normal position open preparatory to engagement of the devicewith an object.

The wrench is comparatively simple relative to the number of partsemployed and the arrangement thereof, and it will be noted that theengagement and disengagement of the jaws may be quickly accomplished byoperation of suitable parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In awrench, the combination of a shank provided with a rigid jaw, a movablejaw, spring means for normally holding the movable jaw open, and otherspring means for effecting closing movement of said jaw.

2. In a'pipe-wrench, the combination of a shank provided with a rigidjaw, a movable jaw, a spring normally holding the movable jaw open, asecond Spring cooperating with the movable jaw, and means for increasingthe tension of the said second spring to effect closing movement of themovable jaw.

3. In a pipe-wrench, the combination of a shank provided with a rigidjaw, a movable jaw, a spring normally holding the movablejaw open, asecond spring cooperating with the movable jaw, and a lever mounted uponthe shank and cooperating with the second spring to eiect closing of themovable jaw.

4. In a pipe-wrench, the combination of a shank provided with a rigidjaw, a movable jaw, a spring connected at one end with the shank, at theother end with the movable jaw, and adapted to normally hold said jawopen, a second spring cooperating with the movable jaw, and means-forincreasing the tension of the second spring to effect closing of themovable jaw.

5. In a pipe-wrench, the combination of a shank provided with a rigidjaw, a movable jaw, an extension projected from the movable jaw, aspring connected 'at one end with the shank and at the other end withthe extension of the movable jaw and normally holding said movable jawopen, and a second spring connected with the extension of the movablejaw and adapted to effect closing movement of said jaw.

6. In a pipe-wrench, the combination of a shank provided with a rigidjaw, a movable jaw pivoted to the shank and provided with a rearextension, a spring connected at one end with the shank and at the otherend with the extension of the movable jaw and normally holding the saidmovable jaw open, a second spring connected at one end with theextension of the movable jaw, and a lever mounted upon the shank andcooperating with the second spring to increase the tension thereof toclose the movable jaw.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HOS'IETLER.

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